Estate Planning for Cochise County, Arizona Property Owners

For most Cochise County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Cochise County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Superior Court. The two tools that keep a Cochise County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Recorder, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Cochise County property passes through the Superior Court — even simple Arizona probates run 4+ months and start with $241 in filing fees. Arizona also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Cochise County

A beneficiary deed names a beneficiary who receives Cochise County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Recorder during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, an Arizona beneficiary deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentA.R.S. 33-405Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathA.R.S. 33-405Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

Create a Arizona TOD deed →Cochise County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Cochise County are recorded with the County Recorder at 1415 Melody Lane, Building B, Bisbee, AZ 85603. Phone: 1-520-432-8350. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.

The County Recorder charges $30 flat, regardless of page count. Recording a 2-page beneficiary deed in Cochise County comes to $30. No transfer tax applies to a beneficiary deed.

Cochise County accepts electronic recording through CSC, Data Services, ePN and Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Cochise County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

1415 Melody Lane, Building B, Bisbee, AZ 85603

E-recording

available via CSC, Data Services, ePN and Simplifile

Open in Google Maps

Fax

1-520-432-8368

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Cochise County

FirmSierra Vista, AZ

Borowiec & Borowiec, P.C.

Since 1997 · Serves 1 county

Sierra Vista firm founded in 1997 by brothers Joel and William Borowiec, serving Cochise County from its Highway 92 office. Its estate work is planning-side: wills and trusts, listed alongside the firm's personal injury, DUI, criminal defense, and family law practice. Consultations and appointments are offered by telephone or video conference.

PracticesEstate Planning

Office
1723 S Highway 92Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Virtual consultations

FirmBisbee, AZ

Copeland Law Offices, PLLC

Since 2009 · Serves 3 counties

Estate and probate practice rooted in Bisbee's Cochise County courthouse town, with satellite offices in Glendale and Tucson. Builds estate plans around incapacity and end-of-life direction, then advises personal representatives in Arizona informal probate and guides trustees through trust settlement. A licensed Arizona fiduciary can serve directly as trustee, conservator, guardian, or agent.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateFiduciary Services

Office
2 Main Street, Second FloorBisbee, AZ 85603

FirmTucson, AZ

Lancer Law

Serves 2 counties

Tucson firm serving Sierra Vista and Cochise County through remote meetings and local appearances, including probate administration through Cochise County Superior Court in Bisbee. Guides personal representatives and families through estate administration from initial filings to final distributions, and handles estate and trust litigation.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 2 more

Office
6700 N Oracle Rd, Suite 234Tucson, AZ 85704

Solo PracticeWillcox, AZ

Law Office of Lowell A. Jensen, PLC

Serves 3 counties

Willcox solo practice of Lowell A. Jensen, admitted to the Arizona bar in 1975, serving Cochise County and the neighboring Graham and Greenlee County communities. His State Bar listing covers wills, probate, trusts and estates, alongside bankruptcy, collections, criminal and personal injury work.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate

Office
241 S Haskell AveWillcox, AZ 85643

FirmSierra Vista, AZ

Stachel & Associates, P.C.

Since 2000 · Serves 1 county

Sierra Vista firm serving Cochise County with wills and estate planning, real estate, business law, and civil litigation. Robert Stachel went into private practice in 2000 after serving as in-house counsel for Pioneer Title Agency, and his practice centers on real estate and civil litigation.

PracticesEstate PlanningBusiness LawReal Estate

Office
333 West Wilcox Dr, Suite 205Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

FirmSierra Vista, AZ

Williams Melo, PLC

Since 2013 · Serves 1 county

Sierra Vista firm serving Cochise County, including Benson and surrounding communities, with Spanish-language services available. Handles personal representative appointments, probate administration through estate closing, small estate affidavits, and trust administration. Local travel appointments are available.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more

Office
2107B Paseo San Luis, Suite CSierra Vista, AZ 85635
See all 13 firms serving Cochise County →

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Arizona statutes and official state code. How we research.

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Arizona

Free forms for planning your estate in Arizona: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Arizona.

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Last Will and Testament

In Arizona, a will is signed before 2A.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyA.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

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Codicil to a Will

In Arizona, a codicil is signed before 2A.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyA.R.S. § 14-2504Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

Arizona allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 1ARS § 36-3224Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witness or a notary.

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HIPAA Release

In Arizona, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related informationAriz. Rev. Stat. § 36-664(F), (J)Verified Jun 10, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases it.

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Financial Power of Attorney

Arizona requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityA.R.S. § 14-5501 through § 14-5506; A.R.S. §§ 14-13109, 14-13110 (RUFADAA)Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and it is signed before 1A.R.S. § 14-5501 through § 14-5506; A.R.S. §§ 14-13109, 14-13110 (RUFADAA)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witness and a notary.

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Transfer on Death Deed

In Arizona, a beneficiary deed is signed before a notaryA.R.S. 33-405Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathA.R.S. 33-405Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. Arizona does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.

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Vehicle Transfer on Death

Arizona allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleA.R.S. 28-2055(B)Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, filed through the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) using Form 96-0561.

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Living Will

In Arizona, the living will is the Living WillAriz. Rev. Stat. title 36, ch. 32, art. 5 (§§ 36-3261, 36-3262); general provisions art. 1 (§§ 36-3201 to 36-3211)Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a document of its own, apart from the healthcare power of attorney.

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Tools for Planning Your Estate in Arizona

Free tools for planning your estate in Arizona: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Arizona and read its answer.

How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

In Arizona, a will is signed before 2A.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredA.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

Arizona recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedA.R.S. § 14-2506Verified Oct 18, 2026View source; a will signed in Arizona itself needs 2A.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredA.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

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Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?

In Arizona, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.

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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Arizona runs $3,760Estimate: 10 hours at $376, Clio's Arizona Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,640Estimate: 15 hours at $376, Clio's Arizona Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

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How Much Does a Will Cost?

An attorney-prepared will in Arizona runs $1,173Estimate: 3 hours at $391, Clio's Arizona Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,346Estimate: 6 hours at $391, Clio's Arizona Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $27,670A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?

Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.

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How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?

In Arizona, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a willA.R.S. §§ 14-5202, 14-5203, 14-5204(B), 14-5410(A)(6)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18A.R.S. § 1-215(19)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in Arizona takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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